NCT04769999: CALM-ED

Computer Assisted Lessening of Intrusive Memories in the Emergency Department

Completed NA Last updated 25 February 2021

What this trial tests

NA trial testing Simple cognitive task in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in 14 participants. Completed in 30 October 2020.

Timeline

4 June 2020

Primary endpoint
16 October 2020

30 October 2020

Quick facts

Lead sponsor	University of Oxford
Phase	NA
Status	Completed
Study type	INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation	na
Design	single group
Masking	none
Primary purpose	treatment
Enrollment	14
Start date	4 June 2020
Primary completion	16 October 2020
Estimated completion	30 October 2020
Sites	3 locations across United Kingdom

Drugs / interventions tested

• Simple cognitive task

Conditions studied

• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder — all drugs for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder →

Sponsor

University of Oxford

Who can join

18 and older, any sex, with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Patients with the condition only — healthy volunteers not accepted.

Sponsor's own description

During the COVID-19 pandemic, clinical staff working in frontline NHS hospital and pre-hospital departments (e.g. emergency department, intensive care unit, ambulance service) are being faced with difficult and stressful situations, which may be traumatic to them. Staff report high rates of post-traumatic stress symptoms, such as intrusive memories of these incidents, which 'pop into their mind' unexpectedly, are distressing and can impact on work performance. Currently there is a lack of tailored evidence-based interventions for staff struggling with intrusive memories of work-related traumatic events: simple, accessible, remotely-delivered interventions are needed. An intervention which has been found to be effective in reducing intrusive memories is a simple cognitive task that involves briefly bringing to mind the memory and then playing the computer game Tetris with specific ("mental rotation") instructions. This case series study aims to test the intervention in a group of 8-20 staff members working clinically in NHS hospital and pre-hospital departments. The intervention will be delivered remotely (via computer/smartphone/tablet/phone). Participants will record the number of intrusive memories daily over a 3-week period, with the intervention delivered after 1 week (with optional subsequent booster sessions). Symptoms of trauma, anxiety and depression will be assessed weekly over this period, and at 4 weeks after the intervention. It is predicted that participants will have fewer intrusive memories per day/week, and lower clinical symptoms scores, after completing the intervention than before completing the intervention. The study will also investigate how feasible and acceptable the intervention is for NHS staff. Findings will inform the next steps in developing and evaluating a digital intervention to reduce intrusive memories of work-related traumatic events in healthcare staff.

Publications & conference data

1 peer-reviewed publication reference this trial (live from Europe PMC):

1. Reducing the Number of Intrusive Memories of Work-Related Traumatic Events in Frontline Health Care Staff During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Case Series.
   Kubickova V, Steel C, Moulds ML, Kanstrup M, et al · · 2024 · PMID 39556801 · DOI 10.2196/55562